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Fadjroel Rachman, Presidential spokesman. ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

The Indonesian government bestowed the "Bintang Jasa" (Stars of Service) awards to honor doctors and nurses, who died while fulfilling their duties to handle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

"This awards mark our deep sorrow (for the fallen health workers) and highest respect for all medical personnel, who are at the forefront in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia," presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman stated in Jakarta on Thursday.

President Joko Widodo presented the 22 Stars to the families of the 13 doctors and nine nurses, who died in the line of duty.

Of the 22 medical personnel, nine were honored with the Pratama (Primary) Star awards, while 13 were presented the Nararya (Glorified) Stars.

Meanwhile, as of August 1, 2020, at least 72 doctors had died of COVID-19 in Indonesia, Halik Malik, a spokesman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), told Kompas daily.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced the country's first confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020.

On Aug 8, 2020, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD noted that the government was heedful of the health workers striving ceaselessly to handle the COVID-19 crisis.

For medical personnel, who died in the line of duty while delivering service to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the government bestowed the Stars and offered compensation worth Rp300 million (some US$20,575) each.

The government has, so far, shown concern for health workers dealing with COVID-19 by providing monthly incentives to specialist doctors, general practitioners, and non-medical health workers, according to Mahfud MD. Specialist doctors handling COVID-19 are offered monthly Rp15 million (some US$1,000); general practitioners, Rp10 million monthly; and non-medical health workers, Rp7.5 million per month.

Indonesia recorded 1,942 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, with 2,088 people recovering from the disease, and 79 others succumbing to it, the Task Force for COVID-19 Response reported on Wednesday.

The country's tally of confirmed cases has currently increased to 130,718, with recoveries touching 85,798 and fatalities numbering at 5,903.

The total number of specimens examined in Indonesia has until now reached 1,783,673, including 26,248 new samples tested in the past 24 hours. (ANTARA)